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Central African Republic vs Gambia
Side-by-side comparison of Central African Republic and Gambia from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Central African Republic
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 66 years
In short
Gambia scores 26.1 in the NationsTree Index (173rd in the world) and Central African Republic scores 15.0 (196th), a gap of 11.2 points. Their trees are 1.3 m and 1.7 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Central African Republic has 95% more people than Gambia. Central African Republic is 55 times larger than Gambia by land area. The economy of Gambia is 44% larger than that of Central African Republic (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Central African Republic 5.5 million and Gambia 2.8 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $3,706 in Gambia and $1,314 in Central African Republic (2025, international dollars). People in Gambia live on average 8.4 years longer (66.1 vs 57.7 years).
Of 30 indicators reported by both countries, Central African Republic ranks higher in the world on 10 and Gambia on 20. Central African Republic is clearly stronger in military, environment & energy and main industries. Gambia is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, tourism and infrastructure & digital.
As a nation, Central African Republic is the older of the two (statehood since 1960, 66 years), compared with Gambia (since 1965). Over the last five years Gambia improved faster (direction score 54 vs 45 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Central African Republic and Gambia.
Central African Republicbetter
1.0%
37th of 180
Gambia
11.6%
162nd of 180
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Central African Republicbetter
27,658
22nd of 183
Gambia
1,138
123rd of 183
Political stabilityInstitutions & safety
Central African Republic
35.9
191st of 207
Gambiabetter
66.2
114th of 207
General government gross debtEconomy
Central African Republicbetter
42.6%
70th of 189
Gambia
73.7%
140th of 189
Rule of lawInstitutions & safety
Central African Republic
30.7
198th of 207
Gambiabetter
52.1
125th of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Gambia overtook Central African Republic in GDP (PPP) in 2013 and has stayed ahead since.
Gambia has been ahead of Central African Republic in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Gambia has been ahead of Central African Republic in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Central African Republic has been ahead of Gambia in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
Central African RepublicGambia All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Central African Republic | Gambia |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 622,98044th/216 · 2024 | 11,295162nd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 622,98043rd/216 · 2024 | 10,120162nd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 5.5 m119th/217 · 2025 | 2.8 m141st/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 3.37%7th/217 · 2025 | 2.23%37th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 8.6204th/216 · 2024 | 272.746th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 44.6%163rd/217 · 2025 | 65.0%107th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 48.7%1st/217 · 2025 | 39.7%27th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 2.2%213th/217 · 2025 | 3.2%188th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $3.07 bn180th/210 · 2025 | $2.59 bn183rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $7.24 bn167th/199 · 2025 | $10.46 bn161st/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $6.19 bn167th/199 · 2025 | $8.94 bn161st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $556208th/210 · 2025 | $919199th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $1,314198th/199 · 2025 | $3,706179th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $560198th/201 · 2025 | $930188th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.5%64th/210 · 2025 | 5.9%35th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.0%37th/180 · 2025 | 11.6%162nd/180 · 2024 |
| Unemployment % | 6.3%115th/187 · 2025 | 6.5%118th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 42.6%70th/189 · 2025 | 73.7%140th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -3.8%125th/192 · 2025 | -4.7%145th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 27.6%16th/197 · 2025 | 23.8%23rd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 21.2%119th/200 · 2025 | 15.8%157th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 18.0%30th/192 · 2023 | 1.5%180th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 41.4%184th/200 · 2025 | 53.1%131st/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $593.1 m165th/182 · 2025 | $330.2 m171st/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $1.03 bn168th/182 · 2025 | $1.28 bn165th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 19.3%147th/183 · 2025 | 12.7%169th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 33.6%120th/183 · 2025 | 49.4%82nd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 52.9%138th/183 · 2025 | 62.2%125th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%141st/170 · 2024 | 0.0%165th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 71.8%40th/171 · 2024 | 1.0%166th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 0.2%168th/171 · 2024 | 90.7%7th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 6.3%54th/171 · 2024 | 7.3%51st/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 8.3%79th/168 · 2024 | 3.3%111th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -2.6%107th/191 · 2025 | -4.1%132nd/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.4%122nd/196 · 2025 | 10.6%16th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 10.3%45th/209 · 2021 | 2.9%87th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.77%49th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 9.49%6th/209 · 2021 | 2.86%25th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 2.9%158th/206 · 2024 | 58.1%3rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 27,65822nd/183 · 2022 | 1,138123rd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 87,000168th/194 · 2019 | 246,000147th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $15.6 m2013 | $53.0 m153rd/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | — | 30.2%24th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 38,0002010 | 307,0002006 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 57.7215th/217 · 2024 | 66.1187th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 89.7188th/196 · 2024 | 42.4160th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.07170th/174 · 2023 | 0.09164th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.02011 | 1.1111th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 42%190th/193 · 2024 | 80%145th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 12.5%2019 | 36.9%123rd/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 15.8%2017 | 107.0%35th/173 · 2021 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 3.0%2015 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 4.5%208th/217 · 2025 | 5.6%187th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 10.7%22nd/193 · 2023 | 2.9%180th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 42.4%2019 | 51.6%91st/98 · 2021 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 2.8%2012 | 13.5%133rd/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.414191st/193 · 2023 | 0.524170th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 43.095th/108 · 2021 | 38.82020 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 71.6%106th/108 · 2021 | 22.0%2020 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 18.2%212th/215 · 2024 | 69.0%179th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 6.2%150th/150 · 2024 | 48.2%110th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 13.5%134th/144 · 2024 | 28.1%112th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 13.8%183rd/186 · 2024 | 49.5%148th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 39205th/210 · 2022 | 12672nd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.0203rd/208 · 2022 | 0.5179th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.6080th/164 · 2022 | 2.30117th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 46,3642001 | 109,542136th/161 · 2019 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.0612th/203 · 2024 | 0.1823rd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 90.9%5th/212 · 2022 | 47.7%52nd/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 33.3163rd/200 · 2023 | 38.3176th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 72.5%15th/214 · 2024 | 21.3%130th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | — | 752007 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 19.3197th/205 · 2025 | 43.5140th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 21.3190th/207 · 2025 | 37.7133rd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 30.7198th/207 · 2025 | 52.1125th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 35.9191st/207 · 2025 | 66.2114th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 33.0188th/205 · 2025 | 44.4147th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 34.5171st/205 · 2025 | 53.9115th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 20.12016 | — |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $74.2 m142nd/156 · 2025 | $14.7 m153rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.3%46th/156 · 2025 | 0.6%139th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 12.5%22nd/154 · 2025 | 2.2%140th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 10,000131st/170 · 2020 | 4,000148th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.54%109th/168 · 2020 | 0.58%104th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 43.0 m68th/163 · 2023 | 1.0 m150th/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | — | 0.07%2018 |
| Scientific articles articles | 26170th/197 · 2023 | 80145th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Central African Republic or Gambia?
Central African Republic has the larger population: 5.5 m (2025) compared with 2.8 m for Gambia (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Central African Republic or Gambia?
Central African Republic is larger: 622,980 km² (2024) compared with 11,295 km² for Gambia (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Central African Republic or Gambia?
Gambia has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $10.46 bn intl. (2025) compared with $7.24 bn intl. for Central African Republic (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Central African Republic or Gambia?
Gambia has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $3,706 intl. (2025) compared with $1,314 intl. for Central African Republic (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Central African Republic or Gambia?
Gambia has the higher life expectancy at birth: 66.1 years (2024) compared with 57.7 years for Central African Republic (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Central African Republic or Gambia?
Central African Republic spends more on the military: $74.2 m (2025) compared with $14.7 m for Gambia (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Central African Republic or Gambia?
Gambia: 26.1 points (173rd in the world); Central African Republic: 15.0 points (196th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Cabo Verde
Comoros
Guinea-Bissau
Lesotho
São Tomé and Príncipe
Seychelles
Burundi
Eswatini
LiberiaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Central African Republic vs Gambia — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/central-african-republic-vs-gambia. Data as of 26 October 2026.